noun
A loanword from English, used in Japanese to mean both 'approval/permission' and 'penalty/restriction', mirroring the English ambiguity. Context determines which meaning is intended.
国連はその国に経済サンクションを科した。
The UN imposed economic sanctions on that country.
上司のサンクションを得てからプロジェクトを進めた。
I proceeded with the project after getting my boss's sanction.